Flags, Symbols, & Currencies of Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France, and therefore flies the flag of France. The French national flag - the tricolore - consists of three vertical bands of equal width, displaying the country's national colors: blue, white and red. The blue band is positioned nearest the flagstaff, the white in the middle, and the red on the outside.The French constitution under Article Two recognizes the tricolor flag as the national flag of France and its overseas departments. The tricolor flag was adopted in 1794 as the official flag of France. 

The red and blue colors are Paris’ traditional colors, with blue associated with St. Martin and red with St. Denis. The two colors are also associated with the Virgin Mary, France’s patroness. Occasionally, the colors are used to represent the revolutionary motto: Liberty, Equality, and brotherhood. However, according to the government website, blue and red are the colors of Paris while white was the color of the king. The flag of France is 1.5 times wider than the height.

Other Flags of Guadeloupe

Besides the French tricolor flag, Guadeloupe has regional and unofficial flags, often hoisted alongside the tricolor flag. One regional flag comprises a regional logo superimposed on a white background. Another unofficial flag consists of two horizontal bands of red or black (bottom), and blue. The red or black band features a golden sun with green sugar cane, while the blue band features three fleurs-de-lis. Guadeloupe has also proposed to have an official flag which will resemble the flag of Suriname. The flag of Suriname features a large red horizontal band with golden star separated from green bands on top and bottom by thin white stripes

National Anthem

• Anthem Title: La Marseillaise (The Marseillaise)
• Music composer and Lyricist: Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
• Date of Adoption: July 14, 1795

Being an overseas department of France, Guadeloupe uses La Marseillaise as its national anthem. The lyrics for the song were written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, who also the music composer. Although the anthem was composed in 1792, it was adopted as the official anthem for France and its overseas departments in 1795

Being a French overseas department, the region uses the same currency used in France and Eurozone. Thus, the euro has been used in Guadeloupe since 2002. Additinally, some shops in the region may accept US dollars but change will be given in euros. There is no restriction on foreign currencies, but any amount equivalent to or more than 10,000 euros must be declared, especially for people traveling from a country outside the EU. 

Coins

The euro is subdivided into euro cents, with 1the smallest denomination being 00 cents. Euro coins are issued in several denominations, including 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20, 50c, €1, and €2. All the coins have similar features, with the only difference being the denomination. 

Banknotes

Euro banknotes have similar designs on both sides and are issued in the denomination of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, € 200, and €500. However, each note has its color, with each dedicated to an artistic period in the history of European architecture. Other features include gateways or windows on observe and bridges on the reverse side. 

Historical Currencies of Guadeloupe

Before the adoption of euro in 2002, the currency used currency used in France and its overseas departments, including Guadeloupe was the French franc. It was used between 1360 and 1641. It was reintroduced in 1795 and revalued in 1960 after a long period of inflation with each new franc (NF) worth 100 old francs. Franc was used until the country adopted the use of the euro. The first franc coins were made of gold and used to pay ransom for the king.